College faces 'new financial reality'

Despite reduced amount, capped term, SMC millage defeated third time.

Despite reduced amount, capped term, SMC millage defeated third time.

August 10, 2006|MELISSA JACKSON Tribune Staff Writer

A survey Southwestern Michigan College conducted last year indicated that considerable support exists for the Dowagiac-based community college and its services. But time and again that support has stopped short of residents' pocketbooks. For the third time in about 15 months, the votes just weren't there for SMC's millage increase, despite college officials' efforts to craft a millage proposal that taxpayers would be willing to support. Unofficial results indicate the limited-term 0.854-mill increase was defeated 2,335 yes to 3,409 no on Tuesday. Only four municipalities, the city of Dowagiac and Calvin, LaGrange and Penn townships, supported the proposal. "We had heard from so many people that they were happy with what the college was doing ... and that the only obstacle between them and voting for the millage was their general economic fear because of the Michigan economy," SMC President David Mathews said. Those supporters indicated that capping the length of the increase, which was initially a 1.5-mill levy in perpetuity, would help secure the proposal the extra voter support it needed. And so, college officials moved forward with their third millage attempt, which featured a 15-year cap and reduced rate. In reflecting on the millage's failure, Mathews noted that voter turnout was "very low in areas we needed to be high and high in areas that are not traditionally supportive of the college." He also acknowledged that "everybody is hurt by $3-a-gallon gasoline and everyone is feeling the effect at some levy of Michigan's recession." "It's all about the economy and different people's perception of how do we make sure the economic future is secure," said Mathews, who believes investing in the region's education opportunities is the way to do so. Unfortunately for the college, there were "roughly 3,000 people who said, 'We can't afford to do that.'" So what's next for SMC? "We will now spend the next month or two developing plans to deal with the new financial reality," Mathews said. "I'm sure the core values of the college will not change. We will not sacrifice quality in what we do." But that commitment to quality will come at a price, which likely will include more tuition hikes. After the last millage failed, college trustees raised tuition by 9.6 percent. They also eliminated the Community Services Division. Mathews couldn't say how the future will play out, but said, "We're not going to do more things than we can do well." In other Cass County millage issues: Voters in Mason and Porter townships defeated the Southeast Public Safety Authority Fire and Ambulance millage 267 yes to 516 no. Final numbers from Cassopolis Public Schools millage restoration vote were 455 yes to 314 no. Cass County's Emergency 911 renewal passed 4,096 yes to 1,462 no. Staff writer Melissa Jackson: mjackson@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7003